Where In The World Are The Killers?

When Shadows Fall

"Team, we just learned that Brother Klaus Weissmann is in Italy! It may have something to do with the change of Pope... The current Pope is gravely ill. We're concerned that this power vacuum could prove a temptation for the Promethians! Father Pietro Agnelli is considered the odds-on favourite to replace the Pope," Chief Ripley lectures, and image of Father Agnelli displayed on the screen behind her, "the Father's rather outspoken, especially about the European referendum... We've got word that Agnelli's not at the Vatican! Three days a week, he washes the feet of the homeless at the Piazza di Spagna in Rome..."

"Sounds pretty humble for a guy who's about to run the Catholic Church!" Carmen remarks.

"Yes, but it could be a cover... We know that the Promethians have connections with high muckity-mucks throughout Europe..." she says suspiciously, "Adalet, you and Martinez need to find Agnelli at the Piazza di Spagna and make sure he has no affiliations with the Promethians!"

"We're on it, Chief!" Adalet salutes, "let's go check out the Piazza di Spagna, Carmen!"

Adalet and Carmen drove out to the Piazza di Spagna and walked down the long and wide staircase towards the centre where a large fountain was located. The fountain featured a statue of a woman dressed in flowing robes on a crouched positing. Draped across the statue's knees and outstretched arms was the body of an elderly man wearing a long black robe that was torn open at the chest displaying a nasty burn in the shape of the Primethian's symbol.

Looking around the rest of the piazza, Adalet picked up some torn paper off of one of the green cafe tables and Hunter sniffed out a fresh tire track near the fountain.

Carmen stared wide-eyed at the body on the fountain, "not again... Do NOT tell me this dead body is Father Agnelli!"

"Ok, I won't tell you," Adalet promised, coming to stand beside her partner.

"As if we didn't have enough on our plate!" she exclaimed, "someone branded him in the chest?! That looks like the Promethian symbol! If he did have any connections with the Promethians, he doesn't anymore..."

"Beyond a serious burn," she winced.

"Were there any clues nearby?" the reporter inquired.

"I found some torn paper, and from the looks of Hunter's nose that tire track she found is fresh!" the agent answers.

"A tire track? The killer probably took off after branding Father Agnelli..." Carmen theorized, "I'm sure you can find a match for the track in the database! You want to piece together this torn poster? Your instincts haven't been wrong so far, Adalet. And we need answers fast!"

"We also better let the Chief know that Father Agnelli is dead," Adalet says, "can I borrow your camera? It takes sharper pictures than my phone."

Carmen took the camera off her nack and passed it to her partner before taking her phone out, "good point. The current Pope at death's door, the favourite for the future Pope is dead..."

Chief Ripley picked up the call after just two rings, "Carmen? Let me guess... Agnelli's dead!"

"Unfortunately, yes," Carmen confirmed.

"His murder will wreck havoc in the Catholic Church!" she sighed, "but chaos is just what the Promethians love! Could this be a power play?"

"We'll only find out by finding the Father's killer!" Adalet calls as she finished taking her pictures.

"Find the killer quickly, Adalet, but be discreet!" Chief Ripley ordered before ending the call.

While Carmen called Angela to come to collect the body, Adalet connected the reporter's camera to her tablet and download the pictures she'd taken of the tire tracks. Once she had the pictures, she compared them to their tire print database and matched up the markings to find the vehicle the tracks came from.